If you have a spare 2.5-inch storage drive lying around, the Orico HDD Enclosure 2139U3 is a good and simple solution to reuse the drive. Featuring USB 3.0 speeds and SATA 3.0 connections, this clear enclosure also lets you show off your original storage drive.
Quick specs
- SATA 3.0 input
- USB 3.0 output
- 125 mm x 79 mm x 13 mm
The Orico is simple to set up. You slide out the top cover and slot in the storage drive. You won't need a screwdriver or any other tool. I was using the Samsung SSD 870 EVO 250GB I previously reviewed inside the case. The SSD drive is formatted in exFAT, allowing me to transfer files between my desktop PC and my MacBook Pro.
Speed wise, it's slightly slower since it's not plugged directly into the motherboard, even if you're using a USB 3.0 port. CrystalMark tests showed slower read and write speeds compared to when it was plugged in directly, 458.81 MB/s and 463.35 MB/s respectively. When connected to the motherboard directly, I saw 561.9 MB/s and 530.4 MB/s read write speeds.
However, transfering a file is pretty zippy — if you're on a USB 3.0 port. A 1GB file took slightly under 5 seconds, a 2GB file took slightly longer at around 12 secs. Of course, the speed will vary depending on the storage drive you use. A older USB 2.0 port will take longer, of course.
The S$9 Orico HDD Enclosure 2139U3 is a cheap buy to help you make full use of your older drives. It fits your standard 2.5-inch drive easily and while it's not the most sturdy, it should survive a minor drop thanks to its plastic casing. It's available on Shopee, Lazada, and Amazon. The cheapest appears to be Lazada, for now.
Editor's note: We received some feedback that some Orico transparent casings may have heat issues — such as those for NVMe drives, but we did not notice it on this HDD enclosure.
Any purchase you make through our links may generate a commission. It supports our work, but does not dictate our editorial reviews. See our FAQ here.
